Fence-machine



(N0 Model.)

` 0.0.,EE0E. FENCE MACHINE.

' No. 592,228. Patented 001;. 26, 189'?.

s lllllll u "und NEMEN Flmmnmmfm 1 UNITED STATES PATENT l @ENCE CHARLES ORLIN BECK, OF NEXV GENEVA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,228, dated October 26, 1897.

Application filed March 5, 1897.

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES OELIN BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Geneva, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful. Fence-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for use in the construction of wire fencing.

The invention deals more particularly with the appliances provided for spacing the fencewires and maintaining them in fixed relation when applying and twisting the elements or strands composing the pickets. The spacer is adjustable, so thatit can be easily adapted to the varying distances between the fencewires, as required for'different localities and for inclosures for different purposes.

For a full understanding of themerits and advantages ofthe invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and thefollowing description.

' The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichM l Figure l is a detail view of the end portion of a line of fencing, showing the mannerof constructing the same in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail View in perspective of the machine or tool for twisting the members comprising the wire pickets. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the spacer.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to inthe following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings bythe same reference-characters.

The fence comprises two sets of pickets, the upper set l being wooden slats, and the lower set 2 being of wire, and each wire picket consisting of two members twisted together and embracing the fence-wires between the twists. The wooden pickets l being broad and located along the upper portion of the fence are readily seen by large stock and warn it of danger, thereby preventing injury, which frequently occurs by thestock running into a wire fence by reason Serial No. 626,121. '(No model.)

of the stock not observing the inclosing wires. The lower ends of the wooden pickets and the upper ends of the wire pickets are secured to 5 5 an intermediate fence-wire, thereby connecting the several wires comprising the fence. Each fence-wire will be provided at one end witha tension device, whereby any slack therein may be taken up.

` "lhe wire pickets comprise two members which are placed upon opposite sides of the fence, and the portions coming between adjacent fence-wires are twisted together, whereby the'picket is held in place and the fence-wires 65 maintained in fixed relation. In order to properly space the fence-wires and maintain them in a fixed relation while applying the wire pickets thereto, the means'presently to be described have been devised, and consist 7o of a rod 3 and arms 4. The rod 3 is preferably tubular, being a length of gas-pipe, and the arms. have adjustable connection therewith, being provided at one end with a sleeve 5 to receive the rod and hav-ing a binding- 75 screw 6 to secure the arm in an adjusted position. The outer ends of the arms are curved,

as shown at 7, andthese curved ends are notched 'to receive the fence-wires, the latter l being retainediny the notches V8 by pins 9, ex- 8o tending across the open ends of the notches and held to the extremities of the arms by curling portions thereof, as clearly indicated. An arm is provided for each fence-wire, and

vit `is located to correspond with the position 8 5 of the fence-wire, whereby the arms will come opposite and maintain the fence-wires in the predetermined position and hold them at a fixed distance apart. The eXtreme arms have their outer ends flattened and projecting 9o slightly beyond the intermediate arms, so as to engage with the inner sides of the top and bottom wires to which the eXtrem-ities of the wire pickets are attached, thereby holding them apart the required distance when applying the pickets by twisting the members thereof about the fen ce-wires. The flattened terminals of the extreme arms have notches to receive the end portions of the wire pickets, thereby retaining the spacing device in roo position when twisting the parts of the pickets together.

Any form of tool or wire-twister may be employed for twisting the parts of the pickets together, and after a wire picket has been placedin position the spacing device is moved along the fence-wires to a position corresponding with the location of the next picket, which is applied and secu red in place in the manner set forth, the arms serving to fix the position of the fence-wires during the intertwisting of the parts of the pickets. The twister shown comprises a radially-slotted twister-wheel 10 and a miter drive-gear 11, intermeshing with the toothed rim of the twister-wheel and secured to a stem 12, having its outer end made angular to be fitted to a bit-stock, by means of which the twister-wheel is rotated.

The twister-wheel has hub portions which obtain bearings in upper and lower pla-tes 13 and 14, and which plates are slotted for the ingress and egress of the wire pickets and have the inner ends of the slots sufficiently enlarged to provide ample clearance for the members of a picket when twisting them together. These plates 13 and 14 are spaced apart by end pieces 15, and are bolted or otherwise secured together. A plate 1G is secured to the outer side or edge of the plate 11 and to the outer extremities of the parts 15, and receives the stem 12, and has a space between its inner side and the outer edge of the plate 13, in which operates the drive-gear 11. This tool is fitted to the pickets between adjacent fence-wires, the parts of the picket to be twisted together entering the slots of the twister-wheel and plates 13 and 11.

The construction admits of the twister being easily applied to the pickets and readily removed therefrom when twisted, and the operation can be expeditiously performed by the application of an ordinary brace to the stem 12, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The herein-described means for spacing fence-wires when applying pickets thereto, consisting of a rod, arms secured to the rod at one end and having their opposite end curved and notched, and having the portions of the arms upon opposite sides of the notches curled; and pins closing the open ends of the notches and retained in place by the curled end portions of the arms, substantially as set forth.

2. Means for properly spacing the fencewires when applying pickets thereto, consisting of a rod, terminal and intermediate arms applied to the rod, the intermediate arms having their end portions curved and notched to receive the fence-wires, and having the extremities of the portions bordering upon the notches curled, and the terminal arms having their end portions projecting beyond the ends of the intermediate arms, and iiattened and notched to receive the end portions of the pickets and engage with the inner sides of the top and bottom fence-wires, and pins closing the open ends of the notches of the intermediate arms and held in the curled extremities thereof, substantially in the manner set forth for the purpose specified.

3. A tool for twisting the parts of wire pickets about the fence-wires, comprising a radially-slotted twister-wheel having hub portions, a drive -gear intermeshin g with the toothed edge of the twister-wheel and mounted upon a stem constructed to be fitted to a bit-stock, and a frame comprising upper and lower plates receiving the hub portions of the twister-wheel and having slots corresponding with the radial slot thereof, and having the inner ends of the slots enlarged, and an. outer plate secured to the lower plate and to the intermediate end pieces and providing a space between its inner side and the outer edge of the upper plate in which operates the drivegear, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ORLIN BECK.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE W. I-I-- JAMns IRocARn. 

